Your movements are intended as cooperative with Sherman’s movement through the States of South and North Carolina.  The first point to be obtained is to secure Wilmington.  Goldsboro’ will then be your objective point, moving either from Wilmington or Newbern, or both, as you may deem best.  Should you not be able to reach Goldsboro’, you will advance on the line or lines of railway connecting that place with the sea-coast, as near to it as you can, building the road behind you.  The enterprise under you has two objects:  the first is, to give General Sherman material aid, if needed, in his march north; the second, to open a base of supplies for him on the line of his march.  As soon, therefore, as you can determine which of the two points, Wilmington or Newbern, you can best use for throwing supplies from to the interior, you will commence the accumulation of twenty days rations and forage for sixty thousand men and twenty thousand animals.  You will get of these as many as you can house and protect, to such point in the interior as you may be able to occupy.

I believe General Innis N. Palmer has received some instructions directly from General Sherman, on the subject of securing supplies for his army.  You can learn what steps he has taken, and be governed in your requisitions accordingly.  A supply of ordnance-stores will also be necessary.

Make all your requisitions upon the chiefs of their respective departments, in the field, with me at City Point.  Communicate with me by every opportunity, and, should you deem it necessary at any time, send a special boat to Fortress Monroe, from which point you can communicate by telegraph.

The supplies referred to in these instructions are exclusive of those required by your own command.

The movements of the enemy may justify you, or even make it your imperative duty, to cut loose from your base and strike for the interior, to aid Sherman.  In such case you will act on your own judgment, without waiting for instructions.  You will report, however, what you propose doing.  The details for carrying out these instructions are necessarily left to you.  I would urge, however, if I did not know that you are already fully alive to the importance of it, prompt action.  Sherman may be looked for in the neighborhood of Goldsboro’ any time from the 22d to the 28th of February.  This limits your time very materially.

If rolling-stock is not secured in the capture of Wilmington, it can be supplied from Washington:  A large force of railroad-men has already been sent to Beaufort, and other mechanics will go to Fort Fisher in a day or two.  On this point I have informed you by telegraph.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES
CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, March 16, 1865.

Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding military Division of the
Mississippi.